Factorial Algorithms in different languages

Solution 1:

Polyglot: 5 languages, all using bignums

So, I wrote a polyglot which works in the three languages I often write in, as well as one from my other answer to this question and one I just learned today. It's a standalone program, which reads a single line containing a nonnegative integer and prints a single line containing its factorial. Bignums are used in all languages, so the maximum computable factorial depends only on your computer's resources.

Perl: uses built-in bignum package. Run with perl FILENAME.
Haskell: uses built-in bignums. Run with runhugs FILENAME or your favorite compiler's equivalent.
C++: requires GMP for bignum support. To compile with g++, use g++ -lgmpxx -lgmp -x c++ FILENAME to link against the right libraries. After compiling, run ./a.out. Or use your favorite compiler's equivalent.
brainf*ck: I wrote some bignum support in this post. Using Muller's classic distribution, compile with bf < FILENAME > EXECUTABLE. Make the output executable and run it. Or use your favorite distribution.
Whitespace: uses built-in bignum support. Run with wspace FILENAME.

Edit: added Whitespace as a fifth language. Incidentally, do not wrap the code with <code> tags; it breaks the Whitespace. Also, the code looks much nicer in fixed-width.

char //# b=0+0{- |0*/; #>>>>,----------[>>>>,--------
#define	a/*#--]>>>>++<<<<<<<<[>++++++[<------>-]<-<<<
#Perl	><><><>	 <> <> <<]>>>>[[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+>-]<->
#C++	--><><>	<><><><	> < > <	+<[>>>>+<<<-<[-]]>[-]
#Haskell >>]>[-<<<<<[<<<<]>>>>[[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+>-]>>]
#Whitespace	>>>>[-[>+<-]+>>>>]<<<<[<<<<]<<<<[<<<<
#brainf*ck > < ]>>>>>[>>>[>>>>]>>>>[>>>>]<<<<[[>>>>*/
exp; ;//;#+<<<<-]<<<<]>>>>+<<<<<<<[<<<<][.POLYGLOT^5.
#include <gmpxx.h>//]>>>>-[>>>[>>>>]>>>>[>>>>]<<<<[>>
#define	eval int	main()//>+<<<-]>>>[<<<+>>+>->
#include <iostream>//<]<-[>>+<<[-]]<<[<<<<]>>>>[>[>>>
#define	print std::cout	<< // >	<+<-]>[<<+>+>-]<<[>>>
#define	z std::cin>>//<< +<<<-]>>>[<<<+>>+>-]<->+++++
#define c/*++++[-<[-[>>>>+<<<<-]]>>>>[<<<<+>>>>-]<<*/
#define	abs int $n //><	<]<[>>+<<<<[-]>>[<<+>>-]]>>]<
#define	uc mpz_class fact(int	$n){/*<<<[<<<<]<<<[<<
use bignum;sub#<<]>>>>-]>>>>]>>>[>[-]>>>]<<<<[>>+<<-]
z{$_[0+0]=readline(*STDIN);}sub fact{my($n)=shift;#>>
#[<<+>+>-]<->+<[>-<[-]]>[-<<-<<<<[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+>+*/
uc;if($n==0){return 1;}return $n*fact($n-1);	}//;#
eval{abs;z($n);print fact($n);print("\n")/*2;};#-]<->
'+<[>-<[-]]>]<<[<<<<]<<<<-[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+>-]+<[>-+++
-}--	<[-]]>[-<<++++++++++<<<<-[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+>-++
fact 0	= 1 -- ><><><><	> <><><	]+<[>-<[-]]>]<<[<<+ +
fact	n=n*fact(n-1){-<<]>>>>[[>>+<<-]>>[<<+>+++>+-}
main=do{n<-readLn;print(fact n)}-- +>-]<->+<[>>>>+<<+
{-x<-<[-]]>[-]>>]>]>>>[>>>>]<<<<[>+++++++[<+++++++>-]
<--.<<<<]+written+by+++A+Rex+++2009+.';#+++x-}--x*/;}

Solution 2:

lolcode:

sorry I couldn't resist xD

HAI
CAN HAS STDIO?
I HAS A VAR
I HAS A INT
I HAS A CHEEZBURGER
I HAS A FACTORIALNUM
IM IN YR LOOP
    UP VAR!!1
    TIEMZD INT!![CHEEZBURGER]
    UP FACTORIALNUM!!1
    IZ VAR BIGGER THAN FACTORIALNUM? GTFO
IM OUTTA YR LOOP
U SEEZ INT
KTHXBYE

Solution 3:

This is one of the faster algorithms, up to 170!. It fails inexplicably beyond 170!, and it's relatively slow for small factorials, but for factorials between 80 and 170 it's blazingly fast compared to many algorithms.

curl http://www.google.com/search?q=170!

There's also an online interface, try it out now!

Let me know if you find a bug, or faster implementation for large factorials.

EDIT:

This algorithm is slightly slower, but gives results beyond 170:

curl http://www58.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=171!

It also simplifies them into various other representations.